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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2008) - Vanuatu (2001)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2008) z Vanuatu (2001)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2008)Vanuatu (2001)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryVanuatu
Administrative divisions - 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Age structure - 0-14 years:
36.35% (male 35,822; female 34,299)

15-64 years:
60.43% (male 59,764; female 56,808)

65 years and over:
3.22% (male 3,348; female 2,869) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products - copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Airports 1 (2007) 32 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
total:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
30

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
11

under 914 m:
17 (2000 est.)
Area total: 54,400 sq km


land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km


water: 54,340 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
total:
12,200 sq km

land:
12,200 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes more than 80 islands
Area - comparative land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Connecticut
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. The British and French who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980.
Birth rate - 25.4 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget - revenues:
$94.4 million

expenditures:
$99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.)
Capital - Port-Vila
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Coastline 698 km 2,528 km
Constitution - 30 July 1980
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form:
Republic of Vanuatu

conventional short form:
Vanuatu

former:
New Hebrides
Currency - vatu (VUV)
Death rate - 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external - $48 million (1997 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US, it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed U.K. Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia
Economic aid - recipient - $45.8 million (1995)
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the native Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The territory makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps. The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. The most recent natural disaster, a severe earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. GDP growth has risen less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the government is moving to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 32.6 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 35 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Environment - current issues NA a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements - party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups - indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Exchange rates - vatu per US dollar - 143.95 (December 2000), 137.82 (2000), 129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Leigh TURNER (since July 2006); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state:
President Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 16 April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Serge VOHOR (since 16 April 2001)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament

elections:
president elected for a four-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 16 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
Father John BANI elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA%; Edward NATAPEI elected prime minister by Parliament with a total of 27 out of 52 votes

note:
the government of Prime Minister Barak SOPE was ousted in a no confidence vote on 14 April 2001 and Edward NATAPEI was elected the new prime minister by Parliament
Exports - $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities - copra, kava, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
Exports - partners - Japan 32%, Germany 14%, Spain 8%, New Caledonia 7%, Australia 2% (1997 est.)
Fiscal year - calendar year
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
GDP - purchasing power parity - $245 million (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture:
20%

industry:
9%

services:
71% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - -2.5% (1999 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Geography - note archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility -
Highways - total:
1,070 km

paved:
256 km

unpaved:
814 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports - $77.2 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities - machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners - Japan 52%, Australia 20%, New Caledonia, Singapore, New Zealand, France, Fiji (1997 est.)
Independence - 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
Industrial production growth rate - 1% (1997 est.)
Industries - food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Infant mortality rate - 61.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 2.5% (1999 est.)
International organization participation - ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 0 sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch - Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Labor force - NA
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
10%

permanent pastures:
2%

forests and woodland:
75%

other:
11% (1993 est.)
Languages - English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama)
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
Legislative branch - unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VP 18, UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note - political party associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government since the November 1995 elections

note:
the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Life expectancy at birth - total population:
60.95 years

male:
59.58 years

female:
62.39 years (2001 est.)
Literacy - definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
53%

male:
57%

female:
48% (1979 est.)
Location archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references Political Map of the World Oceania
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,067,384 GRT/1,330,543 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 23, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 1, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 7, vehicle carrier 6

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, France 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 1, Japan 22, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, US 4 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 -
Military branches - no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA%
National holiday - Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Nationality - noun:
Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)

adjective:
Ni-Vanuatu
Natural hazards NA tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Net migration rate - 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders - Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Willie TITONGOA]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuaaku Party (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders - NA
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia
192,910 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 1.7% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios - 62,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions - Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%
Sex ratio - at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
1.17 male(s)/female

total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 4,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 154 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 1 (1997)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation) mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Total fertility rate - 3.19 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate - NA%
Waterways - none
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